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April 05, 2007

Never do a story about Maple Syrup on an empty stomach. Betsy contemplates "pancakes with no syrup", as maple sugar maker Arthur Berndt tells of climate change as it can currently be observed in Vermont, home to one of our sweetest natural resources: "The trees are clearly stressed. We would have fewer days that are suitable for maple syrup production." LISTEN (7 min)

April 04, 2007

Harvard Oceanographer James McCarthy was co-chair of the 2001 IPCC report, and a contributor to this year's edition, the 2nd part of which will be released this Friday. Dr. McCarthy gives us a valuable insider's preview, and offers us this hope: Betsy: "You say the worst is not going to happen, because..."Dr. McCarthy: "....because we can't be that stupid " LISTEN (11 min)

March 30, 2007

On day thirty-two of his trek through Baffin Island in the Canadian Arctic, renowned explorer Will Steger takes a break to tell Betsy how climate change is effecting the livelihoods of the people who have lived there for centuries: "This is ground zero of global warming." This is also Global Warming 101, Will's initiative to share with us the cultural face of the lands that, through no fault of their own, are the first to experience a man-made climate. LISTEN (11 min)

Betsy (and Bob Marley!) introduce an engaging interview between NRDC George Black and Step It Up 07 torchbearer Bill McKibben. The national rally on April 14th is such a crucial opportunity to channel all of our creative and optimistic instincts towards decisive action to protect the only world that humans have thrived in: "(20 years ago) We could have started with the easy, tepid compromise. Now scientifically, our backs are against the wall." Get involved! LISTEN (7 min)

March 24, 2007

California Congressman Henry Waxman reflects on a week which saw Rep. Waxman himself presiding over hearings on the Bush Administration's brazen politicization of science; the largest yet (OK, 3,000 is not Dr. King-size, but still) citizen rally in Washington for action against climate change; and the triumphant return of Albert Gore, the man who would be president. Waxman sizes up the momentum, and feels the winds of change at his back: "We have the chance to act. We have the responsibility to act. But we're not going to be given an indefinite period of time to act." LISTEN (11 min)

Bill McKibben stops by EcoTalk's Green Street studio to tell Betsy about his new book Deep Economy: The Wealth of Communities and the Durable Future and urges you to Step It Up in your own unqiue way as part of the Step It Up global gathering on April 14th. You've got about three weeks to read up on how others are stepping it up, and to think about the coolest way possible you can open the public's eyes to climate change. PART ONE (7 min) PART TWO (12 min)Picture courtesy Grist

Mammologist, biologist, writer, and 2007 Australian of the Year Tim Flannery tells Betsy about water rationing in a draught-striken Australia, his book for all ages The Weathermakers, and how us Yanks can't afford to wait out Bush's term in office. PART ONE (7 min) PART TWO (12 min)

March 20, 2007

Grist Magazine staff writer David Roberts kept a rather wily running commentary of yesterday's congressional hearings on the White House putting their grubby claws all over taxpayer-funded science. The good guys got some jabs in, but was all the "lawyering" and "technobabble" a distraction from the fact that in the only contest that really matters (Climate Change!), we're falling behind? "It was a political circus" Roberts says. "Trying to pretend that we're arguing about science when what we're actually arguing about is policy, helps the conservatives.PART 1 (11 min)PART 2 (7 min)